LABORATORY EVALUATION OF STRESS CRACKING IN HDPE GEOMEMBRANE. DURABILITY AND AGING OF GEOSYNTHETICS. PAPERS PRESENTED AT A SEMINAR HELD AT THE GEOSYNTHETIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DREXEL UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 8-9 1988

This article describes work which evaluates the sensitivity of high density polyethylene (hdpe) geomembrane sheets and seams to stress cracking. The densities of the geomembranes tested varied from 0.93 to 0.95 g per cubic centimetre and the thicknesses were 0.75 mm, 1 mm and 1.5 mm. Fillet, extrusion, flat extrusion, hot wedge, hot air and ultrasonic seams were tested. The ASTM test method d-2552 was used, modified so that the dimensions of the test specimens were made long enough to accommodate the full width of the seams. Cracking propagation was examined under a light microscope, and fracture surface morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscope. The test results showed that the geomembrane sheets can resist stress cracking much better than the seams. 38% of the seamed specimens showed cracking, whereas only 1% of the sheet specimens cracked. Fractographic studies indicated that the fracture morphology of the surfaces was a function of the applied stress level. Five types of morphology were identified: short fibrous, long fibrous, flake, hackle and lamellar. For the covering abstract of the seminar see IRRD 824467.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1851663630
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier Science Publishers

  Crown House, Linton Road
  Barking, Essex IG11 8JU,   England 
• Authors:
  • Halse, Y H
  • Koerner, R M
  • LORD, A E
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 177-94
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Commission of the European Communities
  • Publisher: Commission of the European Communities

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Cracking; Ethylene resins; Failure; Geotextiles; Stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Polyethylene
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498071
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• ISBN: 1-85166-363-0
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM